If you don’t look back twice when you first see a tortoiseshell cat, I think I have a problem with your taste.
Haha, I am just kidding. But they really are one of the most beautiful cats of the cat kingdom. And in many ways, it seems nature conspires in weird ways to create them.
I say this because most tortoiseshell cats are female and male tortoiseshells are extremely rare.
That and the fact that there are so many mysterious tales, folklore, and strange facts that revolve around tortoiseshell and calico cats, make them one of the most discussed cats among feline lovers.
In this article, I am going to discuss the social attributes that come along with their outer beauty.
I am going to discuss their personality in detail in a later post in but this is a good time to discuss the interactive side of their persona.
Things like how good are tortoiseshells with other dogs, cats, kids, and whether they form good family pets.
Because I feel when you discuss a context using questions, our brains retain the information much better.
So, without any further ado, let’s begin with the most important one,
Do Tortoiseshell Cats Get Along with Dogs?
The answer is yes, tortoiseshell owing to their affectionate nature are known to get well along with other pets including dogs. But the responsibility of introducing a tortoiseshell cat to your dog slowly, rightly, and with caution lies on you.
Well, this goes with almost all pet interactions when you introduce them for the first time.
Owing to their affectionate nature tortoiseshells don’t pose a lot of resistance in mixing up with other pets.
Of course, you need to make the introduction gradual and sufficient time must be given so that the cat warms up nicely to the dog, new people, or other cats.
Are Tortoiseshell Cats Affectionate?
Yes, in general, tortoiseshell cats are known to be very affectionate and friendly. That being said, as is the case with any cat they are very capable of choosing who to share their affection with.
Their general persona is that of acceptance, which means as long as other people and pets know how to be gentle and respect their boundaries they have a high tolerance level.
While they carry a general healthy tolerance for all, they are known to pick their favorite human.
With tortoiseshell cats, you will often hear the term ‘tortitude’. Most owners who have had the pleasure of owning them sear that any cat that has tortoiseshell markings tends to be sassier than cats with other coloration.
While there is no scientific backing to prove this, there seems to be a logical explanation. Nearly all tortoiseshell and calico cats are female.
This is because the gene that is responsible for coloration is the X chromosome. Female cats as is the case with all mammals have two X chromosomes. Male cats have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome.
Because the Y chromosome doesn’t contribute to coloration it is impossible for male torties to have both orange and non-orange coloration.
The exception to this is when a male has XXY chromosome, which is obviously rare and in most cases, such males are too physically fragile to survive.
Now, this isn’t a universal fact but in general female cats carry a repute of being sassier than males. So, there is this general perception of torties being sassy has gone so deep that they have a phrase tortitude associated with them.
Do Tortoiseshell Cats Make Good Pets?
Yes, tortoiseshells and calico cats are known to be great house pets. While most cat owners who have had the fortune of living with one declare that torties are feisty, they also rave about their loyal and protective nature.
The general feistiness in that aura has gone even deeper than them, getting a phrase tortitude. Cat owners have unanimously decided to call them the Divas of the cat world.
They are also the flag bearers of the aloofness that is often related to cats. But that is not something that is written in stone. As they waste no time in showing that it isn’t a concretized conclusion with these cats.
I recently created a video on calico cats as well that I really think you should check out.
If you go ahead and check the comments that I received on the video, most of them relay that calicoes and torties are exceptionally sweet and love their owners.
Now, what are their general tendency towards other pets, kids, and strangers?
In general, torties are very inclusive and this is the reason they also form great family pets. As long as they are treated with respect and their space is respected they will get along very well with dogs, cats, other pets, and kids.
But as I pointed out earlier, the onus of ensuring that you introduce your torties to the new environment or to other pets lies solely on you.
The introduction has to be gradual, systematic and should process in such a way that there is no chance of conflict between the pets.
Can Tortoiseshell Cats Get Aggressive?
Some studies suggest that tortoiseshell cats are a bit more aggressive than some of their counterparts. As per the study, calicoes and torties carry a tendency of being more assertive and may challenge their owners.
The study conducted was very thorough as it involved the participation of 1200 cat owners. The study involved creating different situations and observing different responses of cats.
The owners were made to assess behavioral patterns that emanated from cats such as hissing, biting, aggressiveness, etc.
At the end of the survey, the participants reported that torties and calicoes responded with more aggression in similar situations when compared with single-colored cats.
While the study uses a lot of data points in terms of participation and the situations created there are certain fundamental limitations to the study.
The primary one was that it was the owners that were reporting the behavior responses of their own cats. This invariably may lead to some minimal bias. This is because it is entirely possible that the owners owing to their relationship with the cats may report responses not the way they are but the way they think they are.
Also, cats respond differently when they know they are in the vicinity of people they trust versus if the participant were alien to them.
Therefore, more studies need to be conducted to say anything with absolute certainty. But as far as living experience is concerned, tortoiseshells may experience some initial discomfort when they are adjusting to their new home.
But it is observed that in most cases their behavior mellows out and the edginess is gone as she settles herself in the comfort of her home and the humans taking care of her.
When she has established herself in the routine of her domesticated environment, that is when you can expect her to start showing the maximum affection that she can muster for you.
Are Tortoiseshell Cats Loyal?
While tortoiseshells may attract a lot of debate regarding their tortitude, one thing most owners tend to agree upon is their loyalty and protective nature towards their favorite humans.
Yes, they may take some time to settle in with you, your home, and the pets if any in the environment that you create for her.
But once she has settled and started to trust you, you won’t be able to wish for a better cat.
Many times, on this blog, have I discussed the importance of having more than one cat. Cats tend to develop as well-adjusted pets when they have a lot of avenues where they can expend their energy into.
Either have a lot of avenues, accessories, toys they can engage with or have a cat-like a tortie that can engage with your cat in an organic manner.
The same goes for dogs as well. If you have established that your dog has a gentle temperament, getting a tortoiseshell cat to keep him company is a very good idea as they can get very well along with dogs.
And tortoiseshell cats don’t necessarily limit their love for people they know.
They love all the attention that they can get and if they perceive security vibes from the general aura of a stranger don’t be surprised if they go and start rubbing against their legs and trilling.
So, in essence, if you win the trust of tortoiseshell cats by taking care of her simple and basic needs, she will reciprocate the love and trust in numerous and surprising ways.
FAQs
I hope I was able to comprehensively relay the social attributes of a tortoiseshell cat’s personality.
Initially, I thought of creating an elaborate article relaying every single point about the tortoiseshell cat, but I am trying this new format where I fixate on important points regarding different cat breeds to make the learning experience more fruitful.
But I am definitely going to write an article depicting the total personality sketch of tortoiseshell cats.
For now, let me conclude by answering a few more FAQs regarding lovely torties.
Do Tortoiseshell Cats Change Color?
As tortoiseshell cat ages, a little dilution may occur owing to the dilution gene. Her dark coat may lighten to a mix of cream and blue, lilac, or fawn. But for the most part of her life, her coloring is going to remain consistent.
Do Tortoiseshell Cats Get Along With Cats?
Yes, owing to their affectionate and friendly nature tortoiseshell cats are known to get well along with other cats too. If you are looking to get a companion for your house cat, I can’t think of a better sibling. They will engage, play, chase and sleep beside each other and develop as well-adjusted pets together.
How Big Do Tortoiseshell Cats Get?
Male tortoiseshell cats can average around 11 to 15 lbs. Female tortoiseshell cats on the other hand are relatively smaller and average around 6 to 12 lbs. Of course, the number will vary from breed to breed.
Final Thoughts,
I hope you enjoyed reading this article on the general social persona of a tortoiseshell cat. We started with understanding do tortoiseshell cats get along with dogs and concluded with understanding the trust and loyalty factor of these cats.
I expect I was able to relay the different personality traits of tortoiseshell cats in a comprehensive way.
If you have any other queries, comments or feedback, do let me know in the comments section below.
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Take great care of yourselves and I will see you in the next one!
Tada!
